Shelf divider and kit

Abstract

A kit for building a shelf divider and shelf divider is described. The kit may include a frontward panel, a rearward panel, and a plurality of slot dividers. The frontward panel may include a first plurality of receptacles. The rearward panel may include a second plurality of receptacles. Each of the plurality of slot dividers may include a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism. The first locking mechanism may be disposed at a first end of each slot divider for coupling to one of the first plurality of receptacles of the frontward panel. The second locking mechanism may be disposed at a second end of each slot divider for coupling to one of the second plurality of receptacles of the rearward panel. A rivet for coupling the shelf divider to a shelf is also described.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A kit for building a shelf divider comprising:
 a frontward panel having a first plurality of receptacles;   a rearward panel having a second plurality of receptacles; and   a plurality of slot dividers, each of the plurality of slot dividers including:
 a first locking mechanism disposed at a first end of each slot divider for coupling to one of the first plurality of receptacles of the frontward panel; and 
 a second locking mechanism disposed at a second end of each slot divider for coupling to one of the second plurality of receptacles of the rearward panel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the frontward panel is segmented into a plurality of equal segments by the first plurality of receptacles and wherein each equal segment includes a slot label holder configured to secure a slot label. 
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 2 , wherein the slot label is to be secured adjacent to an outward face of each equal segment of the frontward panel and each slot label holder comprises:
 opposing grooves to receive opposing sides of the slot label; and   an insertion member to stop further insertion of the slot label once the slot label is fully received.   
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 3 , wherein each insertion member is an abutment coupled to the outward face of each equal segment and centrally disposed between the opposing grooves of each slot label holder. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 4 , wherein each slot label holder further comprises a withdrawal member to stop withdrawal of the slot label once the slot label is fully received. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first locking mechanism on each of the plurality of slot dividers includes a first member extending from the first end of the slot divider, the first member terminating at a first latch;   wherein each of the first plurality of receptacles of the frontward panel includes a first latch strike for receiving the first latch once the first latch is inserted into one of the first plurality of receptacles;   wherein the second locking mechanism on each of the plurality of slot dividers includes a second member extending from the second end of the slot divider, the second member terminating at a second latch; and   wherein each of the second plurality of receptacles of the rearward panel includes a second latch strike for receiving the second latch once the second latch is inserted into one of the second plurality of receptacles.   
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the frontward panel and the rearward panel are segmented into a plurality of equal segments having a segment length, the frontward panel being segmented by the first plurality of receptacles and the rearward panel being segmented by the second plurality of receptacles. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 7 , wherein two slot dividers of the plurality of slot dividers arranged side-by-side form a slot when coupled to the frontward and rearward panel and separated by one of the plurality of equal segments having the segment length, wherein the kit further comprises:
 a slot median having a median length equal to the segment length, the slot median being coupled to each of the two slot dividers arranged side-by-side.   
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 8 , wherein the slot median further comprises a bin label holder configured to secure a bin label. 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 8 , wherein the slot median further comprises:
 a first median latch disposed at a first end of the slot median for coupling to one of the two slot dividers arranged side-by-side; and   a second median latch disposed at a second end of the slot median for coupling to another of the two slot dividers arranged side-by-side.   
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 10 ,
 wherein each of the plurality of slot dividers has a first side and a second side;   wherein each slot divider further includes a first median aperture passing through each slot divider from the first side to the second side; and   wherein the first median aperture is symmetrical from both the first side and the second side of each slot divider and the slot median is configured to be coupled to either the first side or the second side of each slot divider when the first median latch or the second median latch is received within the first median aperture.   
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of slot dividers further includes a second median aperture identical to the first median aperture, the second median aperture displaced a median separation distance from the first median aperture along the slot divider. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of slot dividers is configured to be coupled to:
 a first slot median on the first side of the at least one slot divider when the first median latch of the first slot median is received within the first median aperture; and   a second slot median on the second side of the at least one slot divider when the second median latch of the second slot median is received within the second median aperture.   
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of slot dividers has a base, and wherein the base has at least one coupling device for coupling the base of each slot divider to a surface of a shelf. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the kit further comprises a rivet configured to couple the coupling device to the surface of the shelf,
 wherein when the rivet has coupled the coupling device to the surface of the shelf, the frontward panel cannot be decoupled from the slot divider and the surface of the shelf until the rivet is first removed.   
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein each of the rearward member, the frontward member and plurality of slot dividers are integrally formed from a single piece of plastic. 
     
     
         17 . A shelf divider comprising the kit according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . A rivet comprising:
 a top portion;   an insertion portion extending in a longitudinal direction including a first member and a second member separated by an insertion distance, the insertion portion having:
 a shelf portion coupled to the top portion, the shelf portion having a shelf portion length; 
 an engagement portion coupled to the shelf portion; and 
 a release portion; 
   wherein the release portion is configured to allow the rivet to be removed from a hole.   
     
     
         19 . The rivet of  claim 18 , wherein the shelf portion length is pre-determined to equal the thickness of a coupling device of a shelf divider and a thickness of a shelf.